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Durbin Prepares for Re-Election Battle

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is prepared for a serious battle for re-election.

He’ll be challenged by State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove), nominated by Republicans in Tuesday’s primary, and Durbin has plenty to say about Oberweis:

“Jim Oberweis is for privatizing Social Security. I am against that. I think that’s a terrible idea. Jim Oberweis is against an increase in the minimum wage. I’m in favor of an increase in the minimum wage. When you go right down the list, Jim Oberweis is against closing the gun show loophole for people who are buying firearms without any background check, even if they’re felons,” he said Wednesday before heading into a unity meeting with several other Democratic politicians in Chicago.

Oberweis says he plans to use the shortcomings of Obamacare against Durbin; Durbin says the program has done more good than harm and he’d be happy to debate Oberweis on that too.

Durbin says this is a serious race, because Oberweis can spend his own millions on it. Durbin didn’t put a dollar figure on what he would spend, saying “whatever I can raise.”